THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While breast cancer is on the rise among women in the state, cervical cancer is on the decline. According to Thiruvananthapuram RCC, breast cancer accounts for 31.6 percent of women with cancer, but the rate of cervical cancer has dropped to 5.8 percent. This is the estimate for 2022. Experts also point out that the rate of breast cancer will rise when the estimate for 2023 comes out.
In 2000-2001, two out of 100 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer. Malabar Cancer Care Society president K Krishnanatha Pai said that in 2022, 7000 people were examined and one person was diagnosed with the disease. However, an average of 3 out of 250 people are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Healthy sex as a result of awareness has helped reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Preventing the spread of human papillomavirus (HPV), the cause of cervical cancer, also helped in prevention. Also, getting women screened for minor changes in their bodies has helped prevent cervical cancer.
2.3 million cases of breast cancer
In 2020, the World Health Organization reported 2.3 million cases of breast cancer worldwide. Of this, 6,85,000 people died. A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every four minutes in the country. According to the Indian Cancer Society, one in 28 women are likely to develop breast cancer. This is due to the delay in diagnosis.
Don't ignore the symptoms
'Wide awareness and early diagnosis have helped prevent cervical cancer. However, the rising rate of breast cancer is serious".
- Dr. M.V. Pillai, Cancer Specialist